youngworkersvic

[youngworkersvic]

36 Reasons Why You Should Thank a Union

Weekends

All Breaks at Work, including your Lunch Breaks

Paid Vacation

FMLA

Sick Leave

Social Security

Minimum Wage

Civil Rights Act/Title VII (Prohibits Employer Discrimination)

8-Hour Work Day

Overtime Pay

Child Labor Laws

Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)

40 Hour Work Week

Worker’s Compensation (Worker’s Comp)

Unemployment Insurance

Pensions

Workplace Safety Standards and Regulations

Employer Health Care Insurance

Collective Bargaining Rights for Employees

Wrongful Termination Laws

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

Whistleblower Protection Laws

Employee Polygraph Protect Act (Prohibits Employer from using a lie detector test on an employee)

Veteran’s Employment and Training Services (VETS)

Compensation increases and Evaluations (Raises)

Sexual Harassment Laws

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Holiday Pay

Employer Dental, Life, and Vision Insurance

Privacy Rights

Pregnancy and Parental Leave

Military Leave

The Right to Strike

Public Education for Children

Equal Pay Acts of 1963 & 2011 (Requires employers pay men and women equally for the same amount of work)

Laws Ending Sweatshops in the United States

[youngworkersvic]

Unions MUST Prevail!

Phroyd

[youngworkersvic]

1) Walmart hurts local communities

Of all of Walmart’s egregious practices overtime, this is the one that’s probably the most well-known. For additional evidence, check out the 2005 documentary, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. Many people are aware that when Walmart comes to town, the company drives out smaller mom-and-pop businesses, but what not everybody realizes is that the presence of Walmart actually does little to bolster the economy of local communities in the long run either.

2) The company uses foreign labor, including child workers

It’s been estimated that over 50 percent of Walmart goods come from overseas suppliers. This doesn’t just take away American jobs in favor of cutting costs; it also creates a living hell for those forced to meet Walmart’s hefty supply needs. The corporation has been accused of paying off officials in foreign companies in order to keep many of the details silent, but various stories paint a gruesome picture.

3) Walmart underpays women and neglects pregnant workers

Although working at Walmart may not necessarily be great for anybody, it may also be additionally tough for women. Beginning in 2001, the case of Wal-Mart vs. Dukes sought to change that, but unfortunately, the Supreme Court shot it down in 2011, making it harder for female employees at Walmart and everywhere else to break free from being underrepresented and underpaid.

4) The company also discriminates against workers with a disability and elderly employees

Besides women, the other marginalized groups Walmart goes after are the disabled and the elderly. In 2001 alone, the company paid $6 million to settle 13 lawsuits filed by various disabled workers. And in 2014, Walmart was forced to shell out $363,419 to settle a suit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of an employee with an intellectual disability who had been sexually harassed.

5) It isn’t a safe environment for employees

In 2013, Walmart finally agreed to update its safety policies at 2,900 stores after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited violations at a store in New York State. The measure covered a multitude of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations, but unfortunately for some, it was too little too late.

6) The company is notorious for wage theft

Besides mistreating their employees, Walmart has, in some ways, literally stole money from them over the years. In one instance, the company forced employees to buy new uniforms—when they could have just bought them new uniforms themselves.

7) Walmart provides poor healthcare for workers

Walmart employees have been found to be sicker on average than most American workers, and it’s no wonder why. Though the company has taken various steps to provide cheaper insurance, the result has simply been to give their workers plans that include less care. Walmart has also used taxpayer subsidies to provide these benefits, without ever addressing the most important question, which is whether or not the company even pays its employees enough for them to afford health care at all. (Spoiler: Walmart doesn’t.)

8) Walmart has a bad track record on animal welfare

If the way Walmart treats people wasn’t enough to turn you against them, then perhaps the way the company treats animals is. Reports show that Walmart is among the worst companies when it comes to ensuring that the animal products its stores sell came from livestock that was well-treated.

9) However, Walmart does care about rich people

In 2013, the Walton family received $8 billion in tax breaks, $6.2 billion of which came from federal taxpayer subsidies handed to them because employee wages are so low. Currently, the company is also hosting $21.4 billion in offshore accounts, which remain untaxed by the U.S. government. And in 2014, as Walmart failed to meet shareholder expectations, the company somehow managed to dig up enough money to give its CEO a $1.5 million bonus for performing poorly at his job.

10) The chain has a deceptive public image

Walmart’s universal reputation as the “bad guys” stings that much more as the company keeps trying to remind us how good it is. Take their OUR Walmart initiative, which attempts to silence dissenters with positive representations of the company, even as workers flood the Internet with their personal horror stories. Or the Walmart Foundation’s initiative to “fight hunger,” while their own employees go hungry, spending $300 million in taxpayer money on food stamps. Or how about its campaign telling you to “buy American,”  even while the company’s new uniforms were made in Jordan.

Read the full article 

[youngworkersvic]

Today we unveiled Zelda D’Aprano’s decal at Trades Hall with none other than the woman herself in attendance. Zelda’s fight for equal pay for women is legendary - not only was she up against employers, but she often had to fight the male-dominated unions of her time, too!

We’ve come such a long way but the battle ain’t over yet. Check out the video below for a great interview with Zelda!

[youngworkersvic]

(via We Should Be Scared Of Capitalism - Not Robots, Says Stephen Hawking)

I completely agree! It’s a quick article. Go give it a read and see what you think!

[youngworkersvic]

In the 1970’s, minimum wage for unskilled labor for a 40 hour week allowed the employee to own a car, rent an apartment (without a roommate), pay their utilities, buy their groceries, go to concerts, purchase clothing, go out to dinner, take vacations, further their education and etc.

Why do people complain about “burger flippers” making $15?

Because, large corporations, while pocketing record profits, are now villainizing those same minimum wage workers, who’s labor and hard work earned them those profits.

By not paying a minimum wage that stays in step with the cost of living, the minimum wage workers continually get poorer, while the corporations get richer. They get away with it by convincing some that it’s those “lazy, uneducated minimum wage workers’ fault.

Also did I forget to mention that raising the minimum wage will only increase costs by 23 cents?

[youngworkersvic]

“During the Union Summer Internship Program, I was placed at the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU). I was so thrilled to have an opportunity to directly experience first-hand what actually occurs behind the scenes and the day-to-day operations of the union. 

From going out to the sites and talking to workers, to sitting in meetings and having conversations with the Victorian State Secretary herself, was amazing and insightful in itself. The amount of hard work put into by the organisers for their members, was an inspiring thing to witness. 

Also, meeting with the RTBU women’s group, learning about the EBA, and talking about the legal formalities with the in house lawyer, was some of the many favourite things I had the pleasure of experiencing at RTBU. This internship was a worth-while program, insightful, interesting and something I will never forget doing.”

Union Summer applications close in one week - get on it! www.weareunion.org.au/unionsummer2016

[youngworkersvic]

Congratulations to San Francisco for raising the minimum wage!

[youngworkersvic]

Temporary jobs or not, you should still be able to house yourself on a minimum wage salary.

Sign our petition to raise the minimum wage.

[youngworkersvic]

“My internship with the ETU was an incredibly broadening experience. The breadth of the ETU’s work was the first thing to strike me, the local and global role of the union made for an exciting learning experience. As the representatives of electricians, the unions’ historical role in the roll out of electricity and the creation of world first safety standards is inspiring. As a trade specific union, the ETU has a unique involvement with a fundamental asset to our society that entwines workers advocacy and the basic needs of a society.

The ETU clearly understands its role as an important institution in Victorian society. The importance of the ETU is represented by their outstanding offices in North Melbourne, their building is a testament to savviness of their administrational team. The ETU is run to improve the services provided to its members, this means that their organizers have a great amount of passion and ability.

The ETU’s ability to adapt to the legalese nature of employment law was equally impressive. Despite meeting some lovely people at the ETU, it was impossible to drop the sense that the union was a well-oiled machine. The ETU has legal, communication and financial departments which created a varied and extensive internship.

My second day truly captured the extensive nature of the internship, in the morning I sat in on an employee dispute mediation with the ETU’s apprentice officer, Omar Merhi. The ETU went to great lengths to ensure a young apprentice did not lose his job, and were successful in doing so. This local experience was juxtaposed with the global, as I sat in on a meeting of the ETU executives as they knuckled out the ETU’s response to the Chinese Free Trade Agreement.  It was clear that the ETU was not just representing the electricians, but were keen to participate in the conversation about Australia’s economic future.

The internship at the ETU was combined with training days at VTHC. This laid the groundwork for how to campaign on union issues. The training taught us skills in advocacy and campaigning, it was a valuable experience in communications, as we learnt the importance of targeted messages and social organization. The internship was an extensive yet enjoyable experience and I recommend it to anyone who would like to participate in shaping Australia.”

There’s still time to get involved in Union Summer 2016 - grab an application form from the website and make sure to get them back to us by October 23! 

[youngworkersvic]

Raising The Minimum Wage Is Long Overdue

I used to say, “It is time to raise the minimum wage.��� However that moment has passed and we are seriously behind the 8-ball. We must raise the minimum wage now to help the millions nation-wide who are suffering through life, in poverty, working 40,50, even 60 hours a week.

Right now the National Minimum Wage law is set at $7.25 an hour, and that is completely unacceptable. People are working more hours now than at any point in our history and yet they are still losing ground as Congress and our State Legislatures fail to increase the minimum wage.

Just look at this image from the Economic Policy Institute that shows if the minimum wage would have kept up with productivity they would be earning over $18.00 an hour.

Over 50,000 Granite Staters are earning at or below the Federal Minimum Wage, yet our Republican controlled Senate refuses to raise the NH Minimum Wage.

The economists at MIT calculated what a “living wage” would be in New Hampshire and the results are staggering. A single worker would need to earn $11.51 an hour. If your break that down to todays numbers that is almost 60 hours a week at $7.25 an hour. But it gets much worse. A single parent working would need to earn $24.66 an hour. That equates to about 137 hours a week at minimum wage. Considering there is only 168 in a week, that would leave a whopping 31 hours a week to sleep, raise their child, cook, clean, grocery shop, and whatever else needs to be done.

I know what your thinking, “the minimum wage is for teenagers and part-time employees.” You would be half right, because the majority of these workers are considered part time, not because they do not want to work full time, but because their employer refuses to make them full time to avoid having to pay for any healthcare or retirement options.

As for being only teenagers, yes teenagers make up a quarter (24%) of the minimum wage workforce, but how many of these teenagers are working at Dunkin Donuts at 8 am on a Tuesday? Not many because most of them are still in school.

The fact is that another 25% of minimum wage workers are between 20-24 and 50% of minimum wage workers are over 25. In 2013 it was reported that 27.9% of those effected by raising the minimum wage to $10.10, are parents raising at least one child.

It is time to take action. The New Hampshire AFL-CIO will be hosting a “Raising Wages Summit” with special guest speaker, Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO.

The summit will include information sessions and workshops designed to expand your knowledge of who is effected by raising the minimum wage, how to talk to legislators (and your crazy Uncle Joe) about why it is important to raising the minimum wage, and to start building a coalition of activists who will stand up for working families here in the Granite State.

The Raising Wages Summit will be held at the IBEW 490 Hall, 48 Airport Road, Concord, NH, on Saturday November 7th, from 9:30a-1:30p.

(More information can be found on the NH AFL-CIO’s Facebook event, or by contacting Judy Stadtman at the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, (603) 632-7302 x19 or email 2015wagesummit@nhaflcio.org.)

Raising The Minimum Wage Is Long Overdue was originally published on NH Labor News

[youngworkersvic]

First, do no harm. 

(Also please sign this petition to allow a rape victim being held on Nauru to come to Australia for an abortion.) 

[youngworkersvic]

Congratulations to @aljazeeraamerica digital journalists who voted union yes overwhelmingly to join @cwaunion Newspaper Guild. #1u

[youngworkersvic]

Follow my FB here for more comics.

[youngworkersvic]

Malcolm mate how many times do we have to say it? No cuts to penalty rates. No cuts to take home pay. None. No. Nada.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-lower-penalty-rates-inevitable-with-seven-day-economy-20151005-gk1yr5.html

[youngworkersvic]

It's Mental Health Week! We often forget to talk about mental health when we're talking about workplace health & safety - but mental health is just as important.

Young people aged 16 - 34 are among some of the most vulnerable when it comes to having a mental illness - and poor workplace conditions (including workplace bullying and insecurity) can exacerbate previously existing conditions.

If you need help, there are plenty of people to speak to. Lifeline (13 11 14) is a 24 hour phone service for anyone in crisis, while the Kids Help Line (1800 55 1800) is a 24 hour phone service aimed at young people aged 5 to 25. And as always, your union organisers are here to help where poor workplace conditions exist!

You can find out more about Mental Health Week Victoria at their page:https://www.facebook.com/events/540513552784948/

[youngworkersvic]

A Notice for Australians

I’m not sure how many people have heard of this, but the word needs to be spread around; the Abbott government and big business are trying to get rid of penalty rates.

Which is a horrible thing for every shift worker in the country.

For those that don’t know, penalty rates are basically penalising the company for making employees work weekends and holidays, adding more to the base salary on those times - for some people penalty rates make up to 60 - 70% of their weekly income this is around $100 to $300 per week for some people, meaning that taking them away will completely screw them over.

Even if you don’t work shifts, I guarantee that you know someone that does or did, not to mention that if the government is fine with taking money away from some of the lowest paid employees in Australia then it’s only a matter of time before they come after other workers as well.

This affects everyone in Australia, it’s just big businesses being greedy.

These people are the cleaners, the retail workers, the food industry workers, the ambulance drivers, nurses and disability and aged care workers. These are part of the backbone of our society.

So please don’t ignore this - check out the official website for more details and to find out how to help.

http://www.saveourweekend.org.au/

Another thing, after the ‘save our weekend’ campaign was started by workers the big businesses decided to try and hijack it sneakily, creating a paid ad on google, making their site about abolishing penalty rates first, so make sure you’re clicking on ‘.org’ and not ‘.com’. This is just another sign that they’re trying to trick people into getting rid of a necessary thing for workers in Australia.

Signal boost this, or make your own post, just get this out there, let people know.

SAVE OUR WEEKENDS